Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-04-02

hood. 1t was Ann Wight, runaway nun from
the Convent of the Visitation, In Georgetown. She
was a cousin OF the deceased Mrs. Van Ness and
was known in the convent as Sister Gertrude. No
one ever rightly knew the cause OF her flight; some
said 1t was disappointed ambition at not being
made SuperiOreSs others that was case OF love,
but she never told, and the convent ladies were
just retcent, but she did stroll out through the
open convent door and come down here to the Van
Ness mansion, seeking protection and home. She
laid aside her homey serge garments and became
woman OF socieIy; , very oid inhabitants remem.
arm OF John r Van Ness, at church, theater and
ball. She was 'the observed OF all observers" In
bountifully remembered by his heirs In the distr.
button OF his estate. She also received q gift OF
ten thousand dollars from one or the daughters OF
de Yturbide. the fll-fated AuguSttn l., Of Mexico,
but for all that she died poor, at the residence OF
John Y. Mason, in Richmond, and Is buried in Oak
Hill, on georgetown Heights: A small marble
Ing OF the mystery OF her life.
At the age OF Seventy-stx Jn0. Van Ness died.
interstate and without issue as the lawyers say.
(He died Just as other men die, for death is very
monotonOus The pauper dies like the king; the
philosopher like the fool rattle in the throat :
GLIMPSE Of Something never Seen before sght
dropping OF the under jaw, and the story OF ones
life ends fOrevermOre.)
MRS. CoNNOR, THE REPUTRD WIDOW OF VAN NESS.
After the funeral the collateral heirs met for a
division of the spoils They were sensible heirs.
cOmmOdating it would go TO them, as Mahomet to
the mountain and another romance OF history
clustered about the memories OF this mansion on
named Mrs COnnor who had always been known
as a widow and the keeper OF boarding house in
the heirs, and when asked her claims respectfully
alleged that she was the widow OF the deceased
Van Ness, by virtue OF q marriage clan0estinely
Suspicious, and regarding the claim OF the ma
tronly lady In mourning and tears for blackmail,
there ensued one of the celebrated OF the Dis
trict. 1t occupied a month in its trial and was
contested by the ablest lawyers OF the land. On
the witness stand under oath, the lady said that
the ex-bank president during his lifetime had
the great distance between their respective social
positions he proposed private marriage, and that,
Philadelphia 6y an alderman. The year, the date e.
the day, the hour OF the occurrence, as well as the
address OF the Official, were given with minute
himself and his docket would cOrroborate or dis
prove. Upon investigation it was found that the
others, whose life was most desired, was dead.
Nothing 80 strange in that; men die every hour.
Further investigation showed that the one partic-
an entry upon which would tell so much, was torn
out Of ifs appropriate place ana missing cloud
Of doubt Ss upon the wiao
letters written to her by the deceased Van Ness
subsequent to the marriage, in which he called
tained her in every material point OF her testimony
The employees and directors OF the bank Of which
Van Ness had been president were called. They
examined the signatures and the bodies OF the
letters; looked at them upside down and cross
ways; peered at them with glasses and without,
and after rejection although they had seen the
thousands on his signature most Ofthem regarded
the letters as genuine, q few said they were for
Then, experts nom all parts OF the country were
called, and they did what experts always dO-per-
picked everything In doubt. II you are litigant,
=, I'M 0pfp or nf,nr
swo and and the jury viii surely hang finally alter
elaborate argument, the famous case went TO the
with S on d se sna I'm
fused to accept the law covering the case, as
stated by the court. on tbs ground OF conscien-
Punishment for contempt, was pertnacioSs IN his
refusal Eleven men rendered verdict against
the widow, and, still In mourning and In tears she
eating s n.y. many Thousands It is said, having been
paid her by the heirs for further silence.
Burnss have passed into strange hands; tie Cot.
tage is here, and the palace Is here, both wrecks
subscribing. with the grounds, as the resort OF
negro pic-cie6.
The house opposite. standing in stately, rec
tangular splendor, rs II sconning the baywtndowed
architecture uptown, has history. Its existence
is cOeval with that OF the Van Ness mansion In It
s.
man, the general OF militia Party feeling ran
high then, basing its issues on religion. The con-
OF CarbeFy became famous throughout the land,
as the scene OF q nineJeenth-centuFy miracle
wrought upon his married sister, 0r& Ann Mat
loe. For seven years Ann Mattngly lay bed
ridden, paxalyzed, and mass o. putFid sores.
Medical skta had exhausted itself IN her cas-, and,
banled, was content TO administer optatss 20
deaden pain, as Q performances OF 0uty. Her
relatives and friends prayed daily fos her deeth a.
the only release nom untold suffering. Many
times they thought her dead but, recovering con-
Sciousnea6, expressed IN the mnfned .cg
Of pain, turned their Thanksgiving into
sorrow. AZ last, one night, In the
seventh year OF her suffering. her family were
called 20 her BEDSIDE TO witness her death. They
counted on their beads and muYmured prayers for
4 soul departing while the ebb and how 2 the
Pot0mao &eFU 66l0V to6 q the chnnGo mn